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On the extremist survival show “Alone,” it’s the first thing they rig up … shelter. After all, a roof over one’s head is a primal necessity that spans species and cultures. Piecing together natural or manmade elements for the purpose of resilient refuge is an evolutionary process, from chimpanzees building nests of interwoven branches and limbs to the marvel of New York City’s Freedom Tower to Frank Lloyd Wright popularizing the line between the two. Examples of architecture – “the art and science of building” – is something we live amongst and within.
Architecture happens at the intersection of design and construction. It’s broad in definition and highly susceptible to trends and available materials as they have innovated over the centuries. Still, most of us aren’t conceptualizing the likes of the Centre Pompidou in Paris or the Burj Al Arab in Dubai. We just want a pretty good lookin’, structurally-sound home to call our own. And maybe even pass down to our children.
Where to Begin
Alex Scott, owner of Hickory Knoll Architects, offers: “All you need to start is a desire for a beautiful home. Many clients arrive with a site in mind along with a vision board for inspiration. An initial meeting can be most beneficial if you’re also ready to share a target budget to ensure we get started with solid footing.”
Compiling the right team of people – a real estate agent, an architect and a contractor – is a key element to success, Scott adds. People often start with an architect as they are likely to have solid contacts for the other two, which is invaluably helpful when you just don’t know how to start or who to call first.
“We like to start with an on-site or virtual meeting to discuss the client’s needs and project. If we’re a good fit, you can hire us for a Feasibility Study where we’ll use your site and wish list to create an initial concept for your new home. Included in the study are floor layouts, 3D renderings, and an analysis of how much the project shown would cost to complete. Then we would move forward with completing the home’s design and drafting a set of drawings for the builder, who will then return a bid and start date for the project. A timeline from initial concept to move-in date is typically 18 months or longer, with six months for design and bidding followed by a year for construction.”
The Design-Build Package Approach
Another approach is going with a firm that is a one-stop shop. Shelter Alternatives in Blacksburg is a design-build contractor nearly 40 years in operation that has streamlined the process by employing all relevant professionals.
Historically, houses were built one of two ways, Shelter’s design team lead, Leah Simmerman, explains: “Either the builder dabbled in design and came up with something that worked or you hired a design firm or architect, and you hired a builder, separately.”
“Having all of that under one roof,” she continues, “the designers, the estimators and the build team helps us communicate and create what our client wants – their design goals, budgetary needs, timeline and actually be able to execute on quality because we’re in a constant feedback loop with all key stakeholders.”
Justin Buehler, construction operations manager for Shelter, fields the initial contact and gets a feel for the general scope of a project with an email back-and-forth or phone conversation. A site visit will likely occur as a next step, followed by a meeting with the estimating team. Then the magic meeting occurs. Estimator + construction + design + energy (courtesy of Shelter’s affiliate, Energy Check) will collaborate, resulting in a pre-design sketch and a pre-design estimate. If the client choses to move forward, the feedback loop and finance clock start. Eventually the team will dial into details including materials, fixtures, finishes, sub-contractors, energy applications, and so forth, all while the estimate gets massaged, widely communicated and re-finalized accordingly. Eventually a design contract gets signed, then a construction contract and then it’s go-time.
Buehler adds: “Something we focus on more these days is boosting sustainability in order to increase project life. Longevity. It is hugely impactful. We all ask: ‘Is this designed to last?'”
Where to End
Scott, who designed his own home in Salem, concludes, “I truly enjoy working for real people and helping them reach for a milestone accomplishment. The American dream is to have a home built for you and your family. I have the pleasure to not only assist clients in realizing this dream but also to have a lot of fun during the process.”
Speaking of dream, it was architecture – the design and materials – that allowed Alex Honnold to scale the Taipei 101 skyscraper for the Netflix bankrolled spectacle. (That, and a whole bunch of grit and skill.) No doubt a rewarding lifetime accomplishment for both Honnold and for those on the safer side of blueprints.
Text by Nancy S. Moseley
Nancy S. Moseley is a freelance writer who lives in the house she grew up in. Talk about longevity. In more than 50 years, no one has scaled the sides to top out on the roof. Knock on original hardwood floors.
